Abstract

Education is the base for achieving sustainable development. With the purpose
of introducing sustainable challenges in terms of climate change, water and
energy consumption, the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) has promoted
the culture of energy efficiency in new generations of professionals that will
work in the field of building construction. A group of 29 students taking the final
official Diploma in Architecture were involved in a project of analysis of energy
performance of UPC buildings in order to identify and implement cost-effective
ways of promoting a greater environmental responsibility. The development of
works focused the attention on introducing energy audits in existing university
buildings, analysing the following aspects: surveying construction drawings,
building characteristics, energy consumption, and use of natural lighting, energysaving
lighting controls, water consumption, and high-efficiency HVAC
systems. The ultimate goal was to draft a proposal with greater respect for the
environment, and for corrective measures aimed at reducing the cities
environmental impact.
This paper has the objective of publicising the results, from an academic
standpoint, of a specific action carried out within the framework of the Energy
Efficiency Plan (UPC,* 2002) that is now being implemented and that will allow
the existing commitment to greening the university studies in Technical
Architecture School to be strengthened. The first stage was performed through
the energy audit of 24 UPC buildings, and, in view of the good results obtained,
the second stage has now been started through other public office, school and
sport buildings.